Nepal squad announced for League 2 tri-series in the Netherlands

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has unveiled a 15-member squad set to compete in the ICC CWC League-2 tri-series hosted by the Netherlands next month. Namibia will also participate in the series, marking the second time these three teams have met in the current League-2 cycle, having previously played in Nepal in February 2024.

Nepal's campaign in the League-2 cycle began with a single win against the Netherlands in their initial four games. Currently, the team occupies fifth place in the standings, trailing fourth-placed Oman by seven points and the USA, who have secured a spot in the 2027 World Cup Global Qualifier, by 19 points. Securing a top-four finish in League-2 is crucial for direct qualification to the Global Qualifier.

The squad, led by Rohit Kumar Paudel, includes key players such as Dipendra Singh Airee (Vice-Captain), Aasif Sheikh, and Sandeep Lamichhane. The team is scheduled to play four One Day Internationals (ODIs) at Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd in Utrecht. This series in the Netherlands represents the Rhinos' final tri-series of the League-2 cycle, with their last matches scheduled against Canada in Oman in October.

Prior to their arrival in the Netherlands, Stuart Law's men will undertake a preparation tour in the United Kingdom, aiming to acclimatize to conditions similar to those in the West. Following the UK tour, Nepal will make a stop in Jersey for two ODIs on July 13 and 15. Their matches against Namibia are scheduled for July 21 and 27, followed by encounters with the Netherlands on July 23 and 29.

The announced squad is: Rohit Kumar Paudel (C), Dipendra Singh Airee (VC), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Ishan Pandey, Aarif Sheikh, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Bhim Sharki, Arjun Kumal, and Binod Bhandari. Shahab Alam, Hemant Dhami, Aakash Chand, Yuvraj Khatri, and Sundeep Jora are listed as reserves.